Darcy didn’t dare speak as Adrian settled on the sofa, staring at the fire. Chin propped up on one fist, he ignored the steaming mug of cocoa she set on the coffee table before him.

She’d dreaded this moment, this revelation.

The Dark Kingdom was a powerful parallel universe created by the goddess Danu where Others could freely exercise their magick without fear of humans seeing them.

Here in the Skin world, Earth, Others such as Lupines had to keep their magick secret.

In the Dark Kingdom, no such restrictions existed. The Dark Kingdom could be brutal and dangerous and feared by Others living in the Skin world, for those who called the Dark Kingdom home were far more powerful than ordinary Others.

“Lars was no ordinary Lupine. He was a Dark Lupine, and that’s what made him turn to evil. Lupines who have resided in the Dark Kingdom can never adjust fully to life among Skins, no matter what they think”

Darcy squirmed, uncomfortable with the turn of conversation. “There are more Dark Others than you know in the Skin world, Adrian. Some half breeds, some with one-quarter blood. Even full-blooded Dark Others. That doesn’t make them bad. They’re only more powerful because they’ve spent a lifetime practicing their magick without any restrictions. As nasty as he was, even Lars had his good side, I’m sure.”

“I loathe Dark Others.” A muscle jumped in his tight jawline. He jumped to his feet and began to pace. “I have no need of a lecture on their powers, Darcy. Lars killed my grandmother.”

Her pulse kicked up. “How?”

“He deliberately starved her. Lars couldn’t abide weak Lupines or elders. Anyone who couldn’t pull their weight was banished. My parents saw this happening, couldn’t prevent it, and they moved to Alaska to form their own pack, taking some of the elders with them. Gran was too frail for the journey.”

Understanding filled her, and a lump clogged her throat. “That’s why you remained behind. To protect her.”

“Lars was furious. He wanted revenge against my parents for leaving, so he targeted Gran. My only choice was challenging him for leadership.” Adrian exhaled. “I lost, and Gran was thrown out into the snow, to perish.”

Burning with intensity, Adrian focused his dark gaze on her. “And now, I need answers from you, Darcy. Why did you hesitate in killing him? Why did he call you honey? What is Lars to you?”

The question she’d anticipated—and dreaded. Darcy clenched her fists. She couldn’t meet his gaze.

After all they’d been through, after all he’d risked for her, she knew the truth. Adrian loved her, and she loved him equally. She’d always been the type to roam and not settle, but she tired of roaming.

Becoming his mate wasn’t what she’d seen in her future, but it was a future she could embrace. Except the coldness in Adrian’s eyes warned she could lose that option.

“Lars was as you said.” She struggled with the truth, a reality that had shamed her for years. “I knew him, which is why I asked the goddess to send me to save you ten years ago.”

Adrian said nothing, but a muscle twitched in his cheek. His nostrils flared, as if he’d caught the sour scent of her fear. Of course. He was an alpha Lupine.

“Lars was…” Darcy’s throat clogged.

Gods, she hated this. Hated her origins, hated her childhood. Never could she escape her damnable past. Always someone would be ready to condemn her for it.

“Lars was my uncle. My mother’s brother.” Darcy bit her lip. “He lived with my parents in the Dark Kingdom until going to earth to form his own pack. Your pack.” She said the words she’d dreaded. “I’m from the place you detest, Adrian. I was born and raised in the Dark Kingdom.”

Shock dawned in his eyes. Adrian remained silent, but this time, she knew it was from the information she’d relayed.

Now she felt it necessary to explain in a rush. Before he reacted, before he made accusations.

“I had little to do with him, I swear it. I only knew that he’d come here to Colorado to live and rule as an alpha because he tired of the dangers in the Dark Kingdom. But Lars had no discipline, little control. My mother tried to talk him out of it…”

“No.” Adrian shook his head. “It makes no sense. You cannot be from the Dark Kingdom. You’re a Changeling Shifter.”

“As was my father. I inherited his ability. But on my mother’s side, pure Lupine.”

“A Changeling Shifter born in the Dark Kingdom. With magick far more powerful than ordinary shifters or Others,” he said slowly. “You did not tell me.”

Now the truth was finally out. Darcy had told him she possessed dark magick.

The magick he hated more than anything else.

“I may be from the place you hate, but that doesn’t make me evil.” She gulped down a trembling breath. “Any more than having Lars for a blood relative makes me behave as he does.”

“Lars went insane, drunk with power. It’s what happens to those in the Dark Kingdom who venture here.”

Jumping off the sofa, she started for him, to take his hand, to explain, but he backed off. Cold, his dark eyes were pure ice Gone was the warmth and understanding there earlier.

Then again, Adrian hadn’t planned on the woman he’d planned to make his mate being related to his worst enemy, the Lupine who’d attempted to kill him and destroy everything dear to him.

“Don’t do this. Don’t shut me out,” she whispered.

He flung out his hands. “You lied to me.” Turning, he braced a hand on the fireplace mantel. “Go to bed, Darcy. We leave tomorrow.”

She had to know. “And then what? After we visit the Mitchell Pack ,are we returning to your home?”

“I am,” he said in a low voice. “But I cannot bring you with me. I free you of your obligation to me.”

Grief and fury twined together. Darcy slammed a hand on the table, making the mugs rattle. “After all we shared, and you’re willing to judge me on the basis of my birth. You’re no better than the shifters who refused to share dinner with me simply because I’m not one of them.” Pride and grief welled within her. “And I thought you were different, Adrian. You’re not.”

He turned his back to her, and perhaps that was the cruelest cut of all. “I must protect my people.”

“From what?” Darcy raised her voice. “From the threat of me? The same woman who helped you kill Lars, who found the snow crystal? I proved myself to you. And yet you won’t trust me. All because I was born in the wrong place, at the wrong time.”

“You lied to me,” he said softly, staring at the fire. “You said your family was here.”

Helplessly, she shrugged. “They did visit here. For a while. But they hated living on this plane of existence. They returned home.”

He said nothing. Desperate, she pointed out the obvious. “You gave me your mating mark, Adrian. You can’t take that back.”

He made a gesture with his hand. “The mark means little until the union is consummated and the couple is formally mated. I did it to protect you, Darcy.” Now he did turn. Gaze fierce, he confronted her. “I’d do it again to protect you, as I did in the mine. But you…”

How terrible was it that she understood? “Because I faltered in killing Lars. Because I hesitated, you can’t trust me. But I did go through with it, Adrian. He’s dead. We both killed him. We’re stronger together.”

Warmth filled her as he lifted a hand as if to cup her cheek. Anger and a helpless grief swirled in his dark eyes. “I want to trust you.” Warmth fled as he dropped his hand. “I cannot bring you back to my people. That is my word. There’s nothing I can do.”